What we are meeting here today to witness is
all about responsibility, moral courage, physical courage, and maturity -- for
the interests of people is the driving, motivating force behind leaders -- and
fulfilling their duties to future generations.

It is, indeed, the result of a
commitment to peace -- unwavering. You have, indeed, witnessed and seen the
hours spent and the efforts made and the obstacles surmounted because there is
goodwill. There is total commitment to peace by all those who played their part
so far in shaping the comprehensive peace that we all seek in our part of the
world.

In addition to all that, I believe
for our Palestinian brethren -- and they are the closest to us in the Arab
world, and we are the closest to them -- it is also the fulfillment of a dream
they have struggled for for years -- a chance to contribute their share in
shaping their future and to have their word regarding that future and destiny.

I am proud to be a part of this
occasion -- on behalf of the government and the people of Jordan -- to
congratulate you on what you have achieved and to wish you every future success
in the times ahead and to assure you all -- President Clinton, all my
colleagues, brother and friends starting with President Mubarak -- for Egypt was
a pioneer on the path of peace -- President Arafat; Prime Minister Rabin, with
his farsightedness and unquestionable moral and physical courage; and all the
other wonderful people who have helped -- the Secretary of State, and the vision
of Shimon Peres, and everyone who has -- Dennis Ross -- so many.

We will do everything we can.
Hopefully, we will meet again. And if we donít, hopefully, the process will
continue beyond this point toward establishment of the comprehensive peace we
seek, giving people the dignity that is their right, the security, tearing down
the barriers of suspicion and hatred and confusion.

I believe that I issue a challenge
to any leader in our part of the world or anywhere else in the world to
demonstrate courage -- moral and physical courage -- to show what responsibility
really means by joining the peace camp for the better future of all the people
of our region.

I hope they wonít be wanting; I hope
they will be there; and I hope that we will have fulfilled -- after all these
years of struggle -- our responsibilities toward our people and the generations
to come -- the children of Abraham and their descendants forever.

Thank you very, very much, indeed. I
hope that next month we will see another major step in our part of the world
when the economic summit is convened in Amman -- with the presence of all who
belong to the peace camp -- to present our area in the context of peace and all
our friends from throughout the world. For now, we need to build on what we have
achieved -- a better future for our people so they can see and enjoy what they
have been denied for so long.

Mr. President, thank you once again
for the kind invitation. On behalf of all those here from Jordan -- my wife, the
Prime Minister, and my colleagues -- we are deeply grateful.